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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-54-98 THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON REPORT GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Meeting: File#_TCD'3 Gate: OCTOBER 19, 1998 Res. # File WD-54-98 Report#:__ e #: C.05.28.17 By-Law# Subject: TRUCK TRAFFIC—COBBLEDICK STREET,ORONO Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report WD-54-98 be received for information; 2. THAT additional"Truck Route" signs be posted in Orono to encourage the use of Highway 35/115 rather than Cobbledick Street; and 3. THAT Wes Knapp be advised of Council's decision. REPORT 1.0 ATTACHMENTS No. 1: Key Map No. 2: Letter dated September 10, 1998 by Syvan Developments to tenants of former Curve Ply Factory,9 Cobbledick Street,Orono No. 3: Correspondence dated September 18, 1998 from Region of Durham regarding Orono Traffic Issues 2.0 BACKGROUND 2.1 Wes Knapp of#5105 Regional Road 17 (Main Street), Orono,has expressed concerns over recent years regarding truck traffic using Cobbledick Street. The resident's most recent request for truck restrictions comes after a truck bent the end of a drainage culvert at the intersection of Cobbledick Street and Main Street. PAP PAPER I 1 15 ER E THIS IS PRIMED ON RECYCLED PAPER REPORT NO.: WD-54-98 PAGE 2 3.0 REV>IEW AND COMAWNT 3.1 The existence of truck traffic is a concern to the resident on the south east corner of Cobbledick Street and Regional Road 17 (Main Street) due to the proximity of the house to the road surface. Records indicate there has been one reported accident,involving an unknown truck, which damaged a hydro pole while turning the corner on December 20, 1996. 3.2 Original truck traffic concerns were related to the Orono Fuel and Lumber operations, located on Station Street,with a back entrance onto Cobbledick Street. Those concerns were addressed by posting truck route signs as vehicles exited Highway 35/115, encouraging the use of Station Street. Operators of Orono Fuel and Lumber use the access off of Station Street as their main entrance. 3.3 Concerns arose again during 1998 as the result of additional businesses operating from the former Curve Ply Building on Cobbledick Street. The businesses include Motor City Trailer, which fabricates trailers, and AWA Transport,which operates as a distribution centre by unloading large vehicles onto smaller trucks for further deliveries. Public Works staff visited the businesses to advise them of the resident's concerns. As a result,Edmond Vanhaverbeke of Syvan Developments sent a letter to all their tenants of the building requesting their co-operation (Attachment No. 2). It is the determination of Public Works staff that truck volumes on Cobbledick Street are still low and do not represent a major concern to the neighbourhood nor to safety at the intersection of Regional Road 17 (Main Street). 3.4 In addition to the requested co-operation of the tenants in the former Curve Ply Factory, staff is proposing to install additional"Truck Route" signing to encourage the use of Highway 35/115. These signs,with arrows pointing towards Highway 35/115,will be installed at the exit of the former Curve Ply Factory and rear exit to Orono Fuel and Lumber to remind drivers of the preferred route. It should be noted that trucks leaving this area likely have three main destinations in mind: i) Highway 35/115 South to Highway 401; ii) Highway 35/115 North; and iii) Taunton Road West. 1116 REPORT NO.: WD-54-98 PAGE 3 i) Highway 35/115 South—Trucks will make the obvious choice to proceed easterly on Cobbledick Street onto Station Street to the ramp to Highway 35/115 South. ii) Highway 35/115 North—Drivers will make a choice to use one of the following alternative routes: a) Highway 35/115 South as in i), and then use the next interchange(Main Street) to turn around and go North on Highway 35/115. b) Following the"Truck Route"signing, east on Cobbledick Street,west on Station Street,north on Main Street and then east on Taunton Road to Highway 35/115 North. C) West on Cobbledick Street,north on Main Street and then east on Taunton Road to Highway 35/115 North. iii) Taunton Road West—In all likelihood,trucks will make a choice to use one of the following two routes: a) Following the"Truck Route"signing, east on Cobbledick Street,west on Station Street and then north on Main Street to Taunton Road. b) West on Cobbledick Street and then north on Main Street to Taunton Road. 3.5 Clarington Public Works also consulted with the Region of Durham Public Works on this issue, as the main concern was at the Regional intersection of Cobbledick Street and Regional Road 17 (Main Street). Region staff expressed concerns about the alternate route from Cobbledick Street to Station Street, forcing trucks to complete an awkward turn and placing them in jeopardy of colliding with vehicles exiting Highway 115. The preferred alternative of trucks going onto Highway 115,then making the turn around at the next interchange also exposes other residents to truck traffic (Attachment No. 3). 3.6 Public Works staff also consulted with Durham Regional Police on the enforcement issue of posting for"no trucks." The passing of by-laws to prohibit trucks is intended to discourage heavy volumes of cut-through traffic through residential areas and keep them on safer routes. The Highway Traffic Act provides for exemptions for truck drivers who are actually engaged in deliveries or services to premises abutting the roadway. The fact that the businesses are on Cobbledick Street and the alternative intersection movement involving Cobbledick Street to Station Street is awkward and potentially dangerous could reduce opportunities of any charges 1l REPORT NO.: WD-54-98 PAGE 4 being laid or being upheld in court. These complications,combined with low truck volumes and the potential for residents of other streets also requesting that truck traffic be prohibited, suggests to staff that passing a by-law to prohibit trucks should not be introduced at this location. 4.0 CONCLUSION 4.1 From the above, it is concluded that"Truck Route" signing should be enhanced to encourage use of Highway 35/115 rather than Cobbledick Street. Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, Stephen A.Vokes,P.Eng., W.H. Stockwell, Director of Public Works Chief Administrative Officer RDB*SAV*ce 14/10/98 PC: Mr.Wes Knapp 5105 Main Street Orono,ON LOB 1M0 O� ST,Q AFT VICTORIA STREET �o w ORONO F::� w wFUEL AND t- 5 LUMBER °a COBBLEDICK STREET o � O J `w Q z O_ (D U w l— w FORMER K)' � CURVE PLY p w <n FACTORY Z w >- � Q I- 3 Z DUCHESS STREET a r z 0 0 O ��/I O LEGEND 111JJJ i <� ADDITIONAL si "TRUCK ROUTE" SIGNS POINTING TO HIGHWAY N0. 35/115 ^' O KNAPP RESIDENCE I K ST a 0 z J } e C:\ATTACHS\CLARKE\ORONOTRK.DW ME r DRAWN BY: JM DATE: OCT. 1998 REPORT WD-54-98 KEY MAP 1119 ATTACHMENT N0. 1 85 KING STREET WEST, UNIT 2 DEVELOPMENTS NEWCASTLE,ONTARIO Li B 1 L2 L I M I T E o BUS. (905)987-3211 FAX(905)987-3083 September 10, 1998 TO ALL TENANTS 9 Cobbledick St. Orono, ON LOB 1 M05 Dear Sirs: We have had a call from the Municipality of Clarington regarding truck traffic going west on Cobbledick Street through the village. As you know, it is in all our interests to maintain good relations with the community. I would therefore remind you that in all cases possible, trucks should be directed to come and go directly from#35/#1 15 Highway. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions please call me. Yours truly, SYVAN DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED Edmond Vanhaverbeke C.C. Ron Baker-Municipality of Clarington-Public Works EV:ls ATTACf MENT NO.: 2 REPORT NO.: WD-54-98 cAwp7\9\trucktraffic.wpd September 18, 1998 The Municipality of Clarington The Regional Public Works Department Municipality 40 Temperance Street of Durham. Bowmanville. Ontario Works L1C 3A6 Department Box 623 Attn. R. Baker, Traffic Co-ordinator 105 Consumers Dr. Whitby; Ontario Canada Li N 6A3 (905)'668-7721 Dear Mr. Baker: Fax:(905) 668-2051. V.A. Silgailis, P:Eng. RE:' Two Traffic Issues in the vicinity of Orono, Municipality of Clarington Commissioner of Works Concern re. Truck Movements at Main Street(RR 17) and Cobbledick Street, Orono Please quote our ref: TRA-RR17-STY Further to our recent phone conversation I made an on-site visit to review the concern TRA-RR4 7SIN about truck.traffic generated by the Orono Fuel & Lumber,and.the old Curvee Ply factory building (trucking yard) and its affect on the subject intersection. It is recognized that road geometry at Cobbledick Street and Main,Street is tighter than the Station Street and Main Street intersection: However, a five year search of reportable collisions at Cobbledick and:Main revealed only one incident where a westbound to northbound truck turning the corner resulted.in a broken hydro pole on the north-east 'corner. The Region considers this to be an•.isolated incident Jog. inexperienced driver) and we have no other truck traffic related maintenance or similar concerns here. We also agree that forcing large trucks outbound.from the trucking yard or the lumber business to head east and complete an awkward turn onto Station Street places them in jeopardy of colliding with a vehicle.exiting the King's Highway No. 115, where sight distance and geometry.is limited. If the outbound trucks had an ultimate destination north via the Highway #115, they could potentially head southlon the Hwy#115 and complete a switch-back movement via the south Orono off ramp onto Main Street. This routing option however, also results in trucks travelling past abutting homes for at least a short portion of Main Street and possibly its full length if they chose to travel as far as Taunton Road before continuing.north on King's Highway No.. 115-for the remainder of their trip. 'If early morning or.late.night trucking is the concern, additional residents could be affected. ATTACFMENT NO.: 3 *REPORT NO.: WD-54-98 2 �t 100%'Post Consumer - 2 - In the Region's Heavy Traffic controlling by-law(section 19.2 -By-law 5-96) any posted prohibitions do not extend to use of the posted section or part thereof for deliveries to . or removals from any premises.abutting the posted road section. In my experience, a similar worded provision is typically found in numerous Ontario municipal by laws that are designed to control the'flow of through movement Heavy truck traffic. Citizen Concern about Street Name Sign for Taunton Road and Tamblyn Road While on-site checking this intersection a local farmer stopped me and explained a concern he had about this intersection opposite the Co-op Store. Ina recent incident, an ambulance had trouble locating a farm north of Taunton Road along Tamblyn Road and at.least some of the difficulty was due to the current lack of signing at Taunton Road. The farmer also made a suggestion that the relatively short portion of Tamblyn Road north of Taunton Road be re-named Co-op Road to avoid its apparent frequent confusion with the other portion of Tamblyn Road located east of Highway No. 115 south. of the Clarke 6th. Concession. In the emergency call the ambulance was.. apparently delayed considerably by confusion over the two physically separated Tamblyn Road sections. Could you investigate his concern as local road names and their signing at Regional Road intersections is a Municipality of Clarington responsibility. Unfortunately, I did not obtain the farmer's.name, but he hauls by tractor through the subject intersection frequently,and his is one of only four.farms located to the north of Taunton .Road off Tamblyn Road. He also pointed out that it.is common for unfamiliar drivers to exit the Taunton Road, Highway No: 115 off-ramp in search of the Clarke 6th*Concession. . This leads to frequent un-safe 'U-turns' from the north ramp. He also suggested that the MTO should advance sign the Highway No. 115 southbound,lanes to more clearly advise unfamiliar motorists-of the other,more southerly off-ramp which is the correct and.safe way to access the Clarke 6th. Concession, east of.the Highway No. 115 I support his conclusion and have already passed this additional signing suggestion along to the MTO for their consideration. Please feel free to call'if you should require any follow-up discussion on either matter. Yours truly Mike Gough,'CET Senior Traffic Analyst Attach. /rd cc. G. Borchuk, P. Eng.